Digital Badge #B

As future teachers we need to understand technology and the challenges that come with it.  Technology changes everyday and with these new trends new issues are created. Chapter 2 has many important concepts about technology issues and trends.  Technology is a constant evolving issue in todays teaching world.  The most important concepts brought up in chapter 2 are:

1.) Developing lessons and engaging students

2.) Lack of access

3.) You're teaching philosophy

Created on www.TOODOO.com By Mylea Scuderi

Every student is different, we each learn, study, and take tests in different ways.  Your lesson plans need to allow for this.  You need to allow students to calibrate, work in groups or partners.  As a teacher you need to be aware of how your students learn as individuals and as a whole.  You need to keep the lesson engaging and interesting.  You can add podcasts, online videos, even computer games to keep students interested.  You need to allow for creativity in your lessons and homework assigned; have students develop their own computer based games or power points to express their views on a subject.  By allowing creativity and use of technology you are giving your students room to express and grow.  This keeps students engaged and wanting to come back to class, to many students hate school.  We need to get students more involved and enjoying school and even homework.  

A very important concept brought up is the lack of access to technology that some students and schools have.  If you are to add more technology into your lesson plans, you need to be aware that some students may not have access at home and limited access at school.  You will need to make sure all students have the right tools and access to complete all projects or homework assignments.  If access is not attainable by certain students you need to have another option available, such as a written report.  You will want to present your assignments in ways that will not affect students that don't have home access or limited access.  You could state what your assignment is about, but give them options, such as a powerpoint, written assignment, or a diagram.

The most important concept in chapter 2 is you're teaching philosophy.  My philosophy of teaching falls into the philosophy of student-centered teaching.  I believe that learning should be fun and unique, students need to feel like they have a say in what they are learning.  When they feel they have a say in what they are learning they get more involved in the subjects.  Even as adults we like to have a say in what we do every day, whether its at your job, the store, or even what you eat for dinner.  By having a say we feel in control and confident about what we are doing.  Students need to feel this way to keep them interested and wanting to learn more.

As a future teacher I feel that lesson plans should be structured, yet have room for student decisions.  For a class to be fun and unique students need to have the freedom of choice.  Students need to see that their opinion does matter, they need to feel needed and wanted.  I have been in several classrooms and seen kids sleeping and looking around.  They have absolutely no idea what the teacher is talking about, nor do they care.  They feel they can not speak out if they disagree or don't understand, they stay silent and ignore what is being taught.  Students need the freedom to speak out and to disagree with what is being taught, otherwise how is anyone supposed to learn new things.   

These three concepts are core concepts when it comes to creating your own identity as a teacher.  They will help you create a lesson plan that not only works for you but connects with your students.  By being aware of current technology, trends and the issues that come with them you are able to create lesson plans with more efficiency.  You can prevent the issues from arising and blend the new trends and technology into your lessons. 

While researching different philosophies I found an article written by a teacher named David Wiggins.  His article was very moving for me, because I believe that this how teaching should be.  I have attached his article for anyone interested in reading about his philosophy of teaching and how he  uses it in his classrooms.  David Wiggins teaching philosophy

Resources:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Scuderi, M. (2014, September 2). DIGITAL #B by myro333 - ToonDoo - World's fastest way to create cartoons! Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=7814896

Wiggins, D. (n.d.). Statement of Philosophy. Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/~dwiggins/philosophy.html